On the road in Louisiana: Audubon Trail blends nature, culture, golf in Bayou State
By David R. Holland,
Senior Writer
MANY, La. (July 1, 2003) -- Hidden coves provide
shelter for lunkers on Toledo Bend Reservoir -- just
one spot that gives Louisiana its tag as a Sportsman's
Paradise. From your bass boat you have a front-row
seat for a sunset worthy of putting your mind into
slow motion.
As you make another cast, in the distance is the water-hugging
14th hole of Cypress
Bend Resort. Westward is the Texas
shoreline. And each day the golf pro boards a boat and rides to
work.
 Life
in Louisiana
-- visions are vivid in the Bayou State. Imagine Spanish moss-draped
oaks, towering pines, alligator crossings amongst swamps, jambalaya,
gumbo, crawfish, crab boil.
Louisiana
is Doug Kershaw, fiddle in hand, bowing a tune on a pontoon dance
hall. And it's a Cajun dialect that stops a Yankee dead in his tracks
with a look of puzzlement.
Add picturesque, fun golf to the recipe.
Don't miss exploring Louisiana's
rich and colorful history when you come here for golf. The Louisiana
Purchase Bicentennial is being celebrated in 2003, and perhaps no
culture parties harder than those in this land, once ruled by the
French and Spanish.
The people? You won't find down-to-earth folks any
more engaging and friendly in the USA. They honor
Louisiana culture with a unique rhythm -- zydeco
swing, jazz riffs, Cajun and gospel harmonies.
Travel from the banks of the Red River to the curves of the Mississippi
River to find Louisiana's 160 golf opportunities -- the majority highly
affordable. Glance at a magnolia tree flowering in the spring on an
Audubon Golf
Trail course.
You could even stop and chat with two of the state's most famous
PGA
Tour players. The Shreveport-Bossier City area claims David
Toms and Hal Sutton as neighbors.
"Louisiana is not the first state one thinks of when golf is mentioned,"
said Sutton, who designed the 27 holes of Olde Oaks Golf Club under
the Jack
Nicklaus design-team banner. "But this is a state you can come
to and expect to be treated well and there are a lot of good courses
being built here. "
Take this as the 2004 Ryder Cup Captain's invitation
to visit and play golf in his home state. Here's a
capsule look at some of the courses of the Audubon
Golf Trail, which honors nature artist John James
Audubon.
 Olde
Oaks Golf Club in Haughton
Near the Shreveport-Bossier City gambling mecca, Olde Oaks Golf Club's 27
holes on 340 acres are memorable, and the parking lot is loaded
with cars from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
"Olde Oaks is user friendly with some rolls of the
land uncharacteristic to this part of the state,"
designer Sutton said, "but I think the course
challenges the scratch golfer and is fun and playable
for the high handicapper."
This Sutton signature course had design help from
Kevin Tucker for the Meadows, Cypress and Oak nines
which snake through a former cotton plantation in a
links style. The Oak layout features an 80-acre lake
that comes into play on several holes. The routing
uses mounding, lots of water danger, native grasses
and a GPS system on each cart.
After your round relax, have a cool brew, and grab
some chow at The Grill in the expanding clubhouse,
where Mr. Sutton has an office.
Gray Plantation in Lake Charles
 Step back in time to a classic on the banks of the Calcasieu River.
Built in 1999, Rocky Roquemore's art work stretches out 6,946 yards,
a par 72 that was ranked No. 3 on Golf
Digest's list of America's Best New Courses in 2000.
Nature rules here with awesome landscaping, 60 acres
of water coming into play on 12 holes, 94 sand traps
and tall pines strategically stationed. The par 3s,
two with island greens, are the most fun.
Enjoy southern hospitality at The Clubhouse, a raised
plantation house surrounded by scenic marshland. The
back porch is a great place to discuss your birdies
and bogeys of the day and have lunch.
The Lake Charles area is part of Cajun Country. Nearby
you can gamble at its casinos or drive the 180-mile
Creole Nature Trail, Louisiana's only National Scenic
Byway.
Cypress Bend Resort in Many
 The views are spectacular around every bend, twist and turn of
the Cypress Bend fairways.
There's no way to escape the scenery -- concentration can drift
as golfer's stare at the 186,000-acre Toledo Bend Reservoir, noted
for its bass fishing.
Ten holes on the 6,707-yard, par 72, hug the water
with six daring carries over coves and bayous. The
surrounding hardwood forests and a few blind drives
grab countless wayward shots, then the undulating
greens add to Cypress Bend's challenge and beauty.
Be sure and enjoy your visit with a stay at the
Cypress Bend Resort and Conference Center with its
brand-new over-sized rooms and comfortable amenities.
Dining in the clubhouse is excellent or relax in the
spacious pub with views of the 18th hole and the lake.
 The course is close to historic Natchitoches, the
magnificent 4,700-acre Hodges Gardens and the
plantations on Cane River.
Again, this Louisiana resort is very convenient for
Texans -- Houston and Dallas golfers give Cypress Bend
lots of business.
There are other golf courses of the Audubon Trail --
log on to audubongolf.com for capsules of those
courses. Every course is a member of the Audubon
Cooperative Sanctuary for Golf Courses.
Coming attraction
The TPC of Louisiana at Fairfield
(tpc.com) is set to open in April 2004. This 7,300-yard, par-72 Pete Dye-design
will be an immediate member of the Audubon Golf Trail. PGA Tour player
Steve Elkington and Louisiana native Kelly Gibson are consulting on the
design.
The TPC of Louisiana will be located just 15 minutes
from the French Quarter of New Orleans and is the
future home of the HP Classic of New Orleans, the
state's only PGA Tour event. Call (866)-NOLA-TPC for
more information.
Planning your trip
 Audubon Golf Trail
audubongolf.com
Telephone, vacation planning, tee times: (866)
AGT-IN-LA
LouisianaTravel.com
Where to play
Olde Oaks Golf Club
60 Golf Club Drive
Haughton, LA 71037
(318) 742-0333
oldeoaksgolf.com
Cypress Bend Golf Resort and Conference Center
2000 Cypress Bend Parkway
Many, LA 71449
Toll Free: (877) 519-1500
(318) 590-1500
cypressbend.com
Gray Plantation
6150 Graywood Parkway
Lake Charles, LA 70605
(337) 562-1663
graywood.net
Additional Audubon Trail member courses
The Bluffs on Thompson Creek, St. Francisville, LA
(888) 634-5222
The Island, Plaquemine, LA
(225) 687-8723
Tamahka Trails Golf Club, Marksville, LA
(318) 240-6300
Calvert Crossing, Calhoun, LA
(318) 666-9191
Golfweek's America's Best Public AccessCourses
Louisiana
1. Bluffs on Thompson Creek GC, St. Francisville
2. Belle Terre CC, La Place
3. Mallard Cove GC, Lake Charles
4. Gray Plantation GC, Lake Charles
5. Tamahka Trails GC, Marksville
Where to stay
Cypress Bend Golf Resort and Conference Center
2000 Cypress Bend Parkway
Many, LA 71449
Toll Free: (877) 519-1500
(318) 590-1500
cypressbend.com
Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Bossier City
711 Horseshoe Blvd.
Bossier City, LA 71111
(800) 895-0711
horseshoe.com/bossiercity
Harrah´s Lake Charles
505 N. Lakeshore Drive
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 437-1500
harrahs.com/our_casinos/lch/
Where to Dine
Jack Binion's Steak House, Horseshoe Casino & Hotel,
Bossier City
Olde Oaks Golf Club Grill, Haughton
Gray Plantation Restaurant, Lake Charles
Cypress Dining Room, Cypress Bend Resort, Many
The Cafe at the Clubhouse, Cypress Bend Resort
David R. Holland, an award-winning Senior Writer for GolfTexas.com, travels and plays all over the world. Comment on this story on our reader feedback page.
|
FEATURE STORY
